Blues? Maybe, in atmospheric terms. But not in the 12-bar, blues-rock or Delta blues sense. Or most other senses. The album title is a play on Miles Davis’ end-of-’60s LP Bitches Brew which, at that point, was his most overt nod to the dynamics of rock music. Nonetheless, Bitches Blues doesn’t obviously use the 1969 set as a point from which to jump. But the reference sets up the first studio album from Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns – the latter word a slang reference to the trio’s Norwegian identity – as non-conformist, carving-out their own musical character; albeit just within the limits of the outer edges of jazz.
Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns are guitarist Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen, whose other band Hedvig Mollestad Trio distorts the boundaries…
Tag Archive: Rune Grammofon
Bees in the Bonnet kicks off with powerful riffing reminiscent of ’70s/’80s hard rock and metal. Veteran guitarist Hedvig Mollestad has always had one foot in the world of these no-nonsense grooves as well as European free improv and progressive rock.
This, her latest album, leans equally toward the former and the latter, with catchy tunes, creative yet tasteful soloing, and a few surprises.
Joined by Ellen Brekken on bass and Ivar Loe Bjornstad on drums, Mollestad plows through 37 minutes of mostly-accessible themes centering around the expected power chords. But, at least to these ears, the album shines brightest when the trio heads outside. This can be heard in the staccato rhythms and unusual chording of itta.